I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?

Chapter 432: Watch Your Words

If Xi Fengying had really left without a word, then she wouldn’t be someone worth helping.

Her willingness to go to such lengths for the common people made her a truly admirable woman.

"Young Miss, Minister Qian has arrived," a maidservant came to report.

"What is he doing here?" Ye Qianning frowned.

"Minister Qian brought many books. I suppose he’s afraid you’ve fallen behind on your studies, Young Miss." The young maidservant was a clever one.

Hearing this, Ye Qianning’s frown deepened. "Turn him away. Tell him I’m ill and that he should come back another day."

"Yes..."

"Are you truly that afraid of studying?" a calm voice drifted over.

Qian Fanji strolled over, dressed all in white and holding an oil-paper umbrella.

The maidservant turned, bowed, and silently withdrew.

"Tch, what a freak." Zhan Chi rolled his eyes. ’Wearing all that white on a rainy day.’

For once, Ye Qianning found herself agreeing. Her gaze landed on his white boots. Surprisingly, neither his boots nor the hem of his robes were stained with mud.

’It’s been raining in the Capital City for days, and the roads are full of puddles. How did he get here looking so clean? It’s ridiculous!’

Qian Fanji walked into the pavilion and set down his umbrella. Turning to see the young girl staring at his shoes, he seemed to guess her thoughts and said with a faint smile, "Inner Strength."

Ye Qianning never quite understood what Inner Strength was. She had studied ancient assassination arts—killing with a falling leaf, redirecting an opponent’s force—but her training had never included Inner Strength.

"Using Inner Strength just to get around? What a psycho." Zhan Chi found him thoroughly disagreeable.

Qian Fanji ignored him and looked at Ye Qianning. "Want to learn?"

"It doesn’t look very powerful." It seemed a bit too flashy for her taste.

"..."

"BWAHAHAHA!" Zhan Chi roared with laughter. "Those tricks of yours won’t work on my daughter!"

Qian Fanji glanced at him coolly. "Young Master Zhan, it would be best if you spoke less."

"Why should I?"

"Because... I’m afraid you’ll make a fool of yourself."

"What did you say?" Zhan Chi slammed his hand on the table.

"You still owe me one Danzhi Flower."

Zhan Chi’s face paled, then flushed with anger. With a cold snort, he fell silent.

Ye Qianning’s interest was piqued. "What’s a Danzhi Flower?"

"It’s..."

"It’s just some worthless flower, nothing to ask about! Daughter, listen to me, you shouldn’t learn from him. The man is nothing but trouble." Zhan Chi scooted closer to her. As Ye Qianning turned toward him, he started to reach out a hand, but it froze mid-air before he awkwardly pulled it back.

"I have a name, and my father is Xiang Minghou. I suggest you both watch what you say from now on. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being unreasonable," Ye Qianning’s voice went cold.

’Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.’

’If not for the respect she had for Old Master Zhan and Madam Zhan, she would have thrown him out long ago.’

Zhan Chi rubbed his nose. He’d gotten carried away for a moment.

’I was too hasty. I need to take it slow...’

Qian Fanji’s calm eyes flickered. The fingers hidden in his sleeve tightened slightly. After a pause, he said, "I will be staying at the General’s manor for the next few days."

"Things are tense outside right now, and we aren’t housing any strangers. Minister Qian, you had best head back." ’He thinks he can just stay because he says so? Is the General’s manor an inn?’

"Aren’t housing any strangers."

Having just been scolded, Zhan Chi perked up again upon hearing this.

Ye Qianning was speechless. ’When it comes to being a shameless rogue, no one can beat him, can they?’

"Dean Chen is being held at the East City Gate and can’t enter the city for the time being. He sent a letter specifically asking me to look in on you. How could I possibly fail to carry out the Dean’s request?" Qian Fanji said without batting an eye.

"Why didn’t Master send a letter directly to me?" Ye Qianning hadn’t received a letter from her master in two days. The message she’d sent with Little Honeyeater hadn’t received a reply, and even Little Honeyeater itself hadn’t come back.